While Indian characters
on American TV
shows are no longer uncommon,
or even stereotypical,
and some actors
(Mindy Kaling, Kunal
Nayyar, et al.) are doing
well, now we can also
check out a new DVD of the
first American TV series
set in India. Titled Maya,
the series—which aired on
NBC from 1967 to 1968—was released last month by
Warner Brothers as a MOD (manufacture-on-demand)
DVD set. It stars Sajid Khan, who was adopted in real
life by the filmmaker Mehboob Khan, and Jay North
as two boys who are looking for North’s hunter father,
presumed lost or killed by a tiger during an expedition
in India. Khan is a local Indian boy, recruited to guide
North, and joining them in the search is—surprise!—an
Indian elephant named Maya.
Isn’t it dated? Sure. But though the series may
be cliché-ridden and cringe-worthy by today’s standards,
it’s bound to have historical value. Inspired by
a 1966 movie, it was shot on location in the jungle and
featured some notable Indian actors of that era,
including Prem Nath, Iftekhar, and I.S. Johar.
Praised for its scenic locales, the series
appeared on TV for an hour every Saturday,
but due to modest ratings and high
production costs, it was cancelled after 18 episodes.